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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

new grad of a big 3 school

Posted By: MKJ on 2008-04-02
In Reply to: It depends on what school you graduated from. - me

Hello, I am a new grad of the Everett Community College program which partners with Career Step.


I posted my resume and got a response from a company that expected me to drop everything at dinner time to do their timed test (I emailed them back at 6 pm Pacific time saying I would be happy to do their timed test, that I would check my email the next morning at 9 am and have the test back to them by 10 am). I got a reply saying first come first served and nothing since then.


Maybe I don't want to work for a company like this anyway!  : ( When someone says jump, I am not going to say how high. I graduated from an excellent program, and I am not a desparate mom with 3 kids at home who will jump through hoops to work from home (I have no kids yet - learned MT to be well-prepared before we choose to do that). The pay was 7 cpl and they refused to give me details such as IC vs stat employee vs employee pay, and benefits.




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High school grad announcements - pls sm
Hoping one of you moms have already been through this. How far in advance of the big day do you send out the announcements? Thank you.
Check the grad board, if you are indeed a grad . . .

There is a thread titled, "RMT/CMT Review classes" posted by Susan.  You are right in that the guide is $49.95, but there IS a fee for the actual classes.  It's just discounted if you're a grad.


So, argue all you want, but it's all right there in that thread.  Perhaps you had one of the "free registration" codes.  There were a few available.  Otherwise, it is $50 for a grad. 


POLL: Home School vs. Charter School vs. Public School vs. Priv ate School...
Pros and cons of each too. I have two little ones that will be starting school soon and I would like opinions on all. Thanks in advance! :)
as a new grad

I really feel you should work for a company *in their office* and get at least two years of experience before you try to wing it on your own.


MT-grad-job hunting-need help!

Hi Everyone,


Recent grad here and an option after grad was to train with Scribes(a company that has an account set up with the school-Canscribe,to allow students to transcribe reports which get passed on to Editor for screening and feedback. Basically like you are on probation until they tell you that you no longer need it, but you are not paid, it is just training. I was just on my 3rd day when I was told that there was an aquisition pending and the training was on hold till furthr notice and to feel free to seek employment.   I have been reading  a lot on this forum about companies the school has recommended I apply to, such as Medquist, Spheris. I am confused and scared. Please guide me in the right direction to avoid a bad experience. What companies will give recent grads a chance? Appreciate any advice.



Toni


Grad needs advice

Hi,



Recent grad here on a job search. I am learning so much from this forum about MT companies. I live in Ontario and wish to MT from home. Does anyone know who is likely to hire-who is good to work for if you are a recent grad that will provide you with support/QA screening-who NOT to work for ect....Please let me know and thanks so much!



MTmoonmaiden


grad gifts

I think that it varies throughout the country and the circumstances.


 


My husband and I are on a budget so we don't spend much.  For his great-nieces and nephews, we send a card with gift certificates for fast food restaurants and it is for 5 bucks.  Might not sound like much to many but they seem to appreciate it and we feel better not breaking the bank.  He has a huge family and to do more would be tough.


Just was at a grad party and met one of my former MDs

nm


...or be a grad of M-TEC or Andrews.
nm
Um, you aren't a grad yet, I see . . .

having just turned in your PE today.  Once you have officially graduated and have access to the Grad Forum, you will see there is indeed now a charge for the RMT/CMT classes.


Good luck with your PE, and I'll see you on the *other side!*


grad. announcements, more info.
According to this website I do have the right idea.......

When to Send Announcements

If the announcement is being sent as an invitation to the ceremony and/or a graduation party, they should be sent out 10-14 days before the event. If it is just being used to announce the accomplishment of graduation, it is still proper to send it up to 14 days after the ceremony. -----am posting this in case the link below does not work----     http://parentingteens.about.com/cs/graduation/a/gradannounce.htm


Doesn't this just chap? A new MT grad is better than 15 yrs exp?

In the September 2006 Plexus Magazine for AAMT members and Student members, Dee Thomas of Thomas Transcription wrote a letter to the editor. Below is what particularly caught my eye. 


"Last week, I ased my staff a question: "Does anyone care about quality anymore?" You know how strong I am on doing it right the first time and proofing the line above. These days, I'd rather hire an M-Tec student with tech savvy than to hire an MT with 15 years' experience in a hospital environment because that's all she has -- a hospital environment that gave her absolutely no feedback or tech savvy for the future, which is now inevitably upon us. It's sad but true." 


I'm just starting out, new grad, and am getting 4cpl on full QA....

... I know it is a bit low, but I figure I need the experience and will take what I get for now.  When I'm off full QA my rate is supposed to go up.  I'm not making much at all, but the experience is invaluable.  Like I said though, I'm new to the industry and do not know what a fair/good rate is or used to be. 


I applied to a lot of companies and was told constantly that I needed experience to get a job.  I do wish they'd give new graduates more of a chance, but those of us with no experience have to take what we can get, maybe that is contributing to lower rates all around.


my son is a computer grad and told me not to get vista
on my new lap top.  i ordered direct from Toshiba with windows XP. 
I did that with 2 kids with time mgmt and a high school girl who babysat 3 days a week after school
nm
The cost of running a private school or any school is expensive....
Why do you think public schools are so run down and can't find good teachers?  Because the government and people to not put forth the effort or $$$$ to improve the educational system.
The School of Hard Knocks is the best MT school
n
We met in high school. My high school sweetheart
introduced us in a discussion over Ford versus Chevy versus Dodge. I used to race my Dodge Coronet with oldstyle 318 V-8 engine against the guys on the back roads and old highways. High school boyfriend had a Chevy truck. DH had a Ford Fairlane and later an AMC Javelin that just made me swoon. We didn't actually start dating until three years later, and my old high school boyfriend was a bit surprised at that since he introduced us.
I'm old school, but still know its 3/6
nm
never went to MT school!
I have been doing this for 10 years now. I have a great job, great QA reviews and make great money. So what???
ol school
LL Cool J and caramel
been to school should have known, especially since they

basically had the words correct.   They were such common terms I don't know how anyone could have gotten through school and not had them at least 100 times.


Also doing one search on Google with the misspelled words would have probably turned up the answer.


 


going to school
Don't get discouraged - you will be able to use your MT skills in other areas to help with the cost of schooling. I'll be doing that too even if I have to work at a doctor's office part time as a receptionist! Just knowing I am making my way out of this field is something to aspire to!!!
Went to school and got my CPC

I have a national coding certificate.  I cut back on my MT work and got a job auditing physician records and scoring their documentation, then gave them feedback to maximize their reimbursement for the services they provided.  When I moved to a new area, the field for the type of coding I was doing had less of a demand, so I increased my MT work.  Now that I'm back in my "home town" I need to network and re-enter the field.  The money is just as good, if not better in some cases, with much better benefits, plus it is something you leave at the office at the end of the day.


d~


School
Northeast Guilford Senior High, North Carolina
School
North Clay Community H.S., Louisville, Illinois! SHHHH, don't tell anyone.
By the way, I'm also from old school....sm

But I try to keep them all as simple as possible, one office with 2 surgeons has their own letterhead, so no problem there and they want things very simple.  All work for all also, besides getting printed by me, is put on a diskette for them to download on their systems for them to make whatever changes they choose.  All others with no letterhead, I supply all paper for (Xerox) and free delivery and pickup to all.  It is free for them, I pay someone to pickup/deliver.  That's how simple I want it, and I also want to bill out and get paid only once a month. 


Everyone seems to like the idea, and it has been working for quite some time (10 years) and my theory is, if it isn't broken, don't fix it.  *LOL* 


As for the national, my weekend work, each client has a CP (client profile) and some of the CPs are more difficult than the others and once in a GREAT while, I might forget SOMETHING but then I contact someone beyond who usually fixes whatever I messed up. 


I went to school for
two years to earn a certificate in medical transcription (at a junior college) but so far no one has ever asked me if I was certified or if I went to school. I guess they didn't care as long as I could do the work.
School
I would not recommend if you actually want to get a job!
I am considering RN school...
I am almost 29 and have a daughter and am pregnant with another one. I've been going to school to get my RHIT but am bored with it and may go to RN school instead. I don't know... I feel too old to do it!
You should ask the school what they want.
/
school
Aug 14 for us here in Douglas County too.  We're neighbors!
Woo-hoo - 1st day of school!!! sm

Both kids survived it quite nicely.  That's 1 down, 179 to go!!!


school
All I can tell you is that I was thinking of going into nursing a few years ago, and a friend of mine who used to be a nurse discouraged me (strongly). It's not what it used to be - lots of paperwork, paperwork, paperwork, lots of long hours and tough shifts. She got her Master's and is now in nursing administration.
Old school
In the old days of 1" on top, bottom, 1" sides it was 54 lines, it was six lines per inch and using the common font of Courier 10 font which is now a 12 font.  But now fonts are all so different as well as margins but I used to get 62 ines per page when doing continuous chart notes.  One way to check in your font is to number 1, 2 3, 4 down a page and see how far you can go or check the line count is word but usually runs 54 to 66 again depending on margins, fonts, etc. 
What MT school did you go to? nm

x


It might if you went to a school that
that is not well known or has a less than stellar reputation. However, if you went a school with a good reputation in the industry, you don't really need it. Companies know who prepares their graduates for entry-level positions or above, who produces graduates that need more assistance, and what programs do not even provide remedial knowledge.

Having your RMT credential might show an employer that you have the basic knowledge required to do the job, but you would need to weigh cost versus the benefit.
School is a must!
I respectfully disagree with the above poster. Not having gone to a quality school puts you at a serious disadvantage in today's MT market. Nobody wants to hire a newbie to work at home, UNLESS they attended Andrews, M-TEC, or possibly Career Step. That's because those schools really prepare you to work at home. I got a job right out of school (wasn't even job hunting yet - the company contacted my school, M-TEC, and hired me right before graduation). I have been very successful as an MT and started making very good money after my first year on the job. I wouldn't even think about trying MT without the right education. Even if you do get hired by someone, you will be so far behind it will take years to catch up, and you probably WILL only make 5 or 6 cpl. I was paid a reasonable cpl rate from day 1. My education was worth every penny I paid.
Re:school
"And yes, I have trained and QA'd Andrews and MTEC graduates and they have sucked eggs just as much as the next newbie MT."

I highly doubt the above response, but okay.

Also, MT profession is not losing their pay to new MT's as much as it is because of offshoring to other countries!


MT school

I graduated from CAI and got an offer to test with MQ the week I graduated.  I also have a friend who took the CAI course and got a job soon after she finished.  It covered all the word parts, abbreviations, and had lots and lots of real doctor dictations to practice.  There is nothing like on-the-job experience and I will be the first to admit I learn something new almost everyday, but I felt I was ready to work by the time I was done with the course. 


Great post BTW.  I get tired of hearing about the "top 3" as if there is no other way to become an MT.


No School
I learned on the job 20 years ago. Approached a local transcription company, "bargained" a shift with them if they would train me. Worked there 3 years and then on to the home office. I now work for a wonderful company in QA/Auditing and I also learn something new every day. I continue to learn through articles, webinars, seminars, etc. There is no end to the knowledge one can have in this profession.
Yes, been to CR school
But it is very, very difficult.  Maybe 1 or 2 in 100 makes it through to certification.  Am not saying you wouldn't be that one, but be prepared.  I had to quit after 6 years because I also worked full time and just couldn't cut the 50 mile round trip commute to school anymore.  Figure I had about two more years to go.  That's the thing -- you never really know when you will finish because you might fly through one speed level then get stuck for 2 years at the next.  If I had it to do over again, I would have stopped working and just concentrated on school.  You have to be really accurate and fast to close caption too.  I really loved doing CR though!  So if you really want to do it, just look into it in depth!
Who was the MT going to med school?
Can you tell me how busy you are with that? I just wondered if you actually have time for anything else. I have friend who is 1 semester shy of her bachelor's degree and is considering putting med school off because she has a daughter, and is worried about how much time she would actually get to spend with her.
School for MT
I have not heard of these schools, but I would suggested Career Step if you are looking for a good course for MT.
I am going to school now myself -
I just started my second quarter and am going to be an accountant. Thinking about going into forensic accounting since there obviously is so much greed and criminal activity in the money world - gotta love the job security!
school
I am definitely aware of what is going on with the economy. It just happens that now is the perfect time financially for me to go to school. Also, I do not plan on going to school for economics, finance, or marketing, which are the main areas grad students are having a hard time finding jobs for (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008149224_gradjobs31.html). For some of us, there is no time like the present.
There is no QA school because
it requires EXPERIENCE. What a strange thing to say...

Did you miss the part about different levels of MTs? Or did you even bother to read it?
Does your school have a job
placement program. Most companies require at least 1 year experience. Good luck.
old school

I have heard that old school MTs who learned the usiness when they were working on typewriters and with carbon sets, etc. learned to listen ahead several words so they could hear any changes the dictator made before they got to it so they didn't have to stop and correct anything.  I've never figured out how that works, though.  I get a couple of words ahead of where I'm typing, but if I get too far out I confuzzle myself too much.


I think MTSO management doesn't always want MTs to talk to other MTs because then they might find out how crappy they are as bosses.


The other thing that has helped me enormously on my speed is to put errors in my Expander - when I type teh for the or pretty much any typo I make.  This makes a huge difference, especially when my hands are tired or stiff, and I'm not stopping to fix stuff like that any more.


I'm in school too -
I am so ready to leave this profession. I started school for an accounting degree and will graduate in December with my associates, then on to another school to finish up.

Things have changed so much for me over the years that I cannot stand it anymore. there was a time when I thought I would die doing this because I loved it so much --- not anymore!!!
$33,000 now and $25,000 when son goes to school.
Drive would have to be within 25 miles from home as well on those pay rates otherwise more for more miles away from home. I hate working from home, and my son is finally old enough that he can tell you what he wants, so I am all for working outside the home. No jobs around here though that will pay enough unfortunately.